VA Adds Presumptive Conditions Related to Particulate Matter Exposure

The new presumptive conditions are asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis. To be eligible for benefits, you must have gotten one of these conditions within 10 years of your separation from active service. This will expand benefits for Veterans who served in:

• Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria and Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War, from Sept. 19, 2001 to the presen or
• The Southwest Asia theater of operations from Aug. 2, 1990 to the present

If you have a pending claim for one or more of these conditions, you don’t need to do anything. VA will send you a decision notice when it completes its review.

“Airborne hazard” refers to any sort of contaminant or potentially toxic substance that we are exposed to through the air we breathe. While on active duty, military service members may have been exposed to a variety of airborne hazards including:

• The smoke and fumes from open burn pits
• Sand, dust and particulate matter
• General air pollution common in certain countries
• Fuel, aircraft exhaust and other mechanical fumes
• Smoke from oil well fires

Depending on a variety of factors, you may experience health effects related to this exposure. Factors that may indicate you have a greater or lesser risk of short or long-term health effects such as: types of waste burned; proximity, amount of time, and frequency of exposure; wind direction and other weather-related factors; presence of other airborne or environmental hazards in the area. Waste products commonly disposed of in open burn pits such as: chemicals, paint, medical and human waste; metal and aluminum cans; munitions and unexploded ordnance; petroleum and lubricant products; plastics, rubber, wood, and food waste.

Exposure to smoke created by burning these materials may cause irritation and burning of eyes or throat, coughing, breathing difficulties, skin itching or rashes. Many of these conditions are temporary and resolve on their own when the exposure ends. However, if you were closer to burn pit smoke or were exposed for longer periods of time, you may be at greater risk for longer-term health conditions. Other longer-term health issues may be caused by a combination of hazardous exposures, injuries or illnesses you may have experienced during your military service including blast or noise injuries.

VA health care is also available for free to combat veterans for five years after separation to help ensure continuity of care for health issues related to their military service. If you are enrolled in VA care, you can contact your facility’s environmental health coordinator for more information and resources.

Veterans can also file a claim for compensation and benefits. If you participate in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR), you may save and submit a copy of your registry questionnaire to support your claim. Through the claims process, VA evaluates veterans’ individual exposures, circumstances of service and needs. 

This article taken in large part from the latest news provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars magazine.

Blake Hyfield is the post service officer for the local VFW and American Legion posts. He can be reached at bhpegleg@yahoo.com.